In a rare display of unity (Hockey should take notes), the players & owners have agreed to ignore the government's subpeonas (story.news.yahoo.com) to appear before congress regarding the steroid controversy.

It's nice to see baseball telling the government to butt out of something that they don't have any business sticking their collective noses into.

Originally posted by Von MaestroIn a rare display of unity (Hockey should take notes), the players & owners have agreed to ignore the government's subpeonas (story.news.yahoo.com) to appear before congress regarding the steroid controversy.

It's nice to see baseball telling the government to butt out of something that they don't have any business sticking their collective noses into.

I've heard that said before. Why doesn't the government have the right to investigate allegations of rampant steriod use in a billion dollar industry when said steriod use is illegal?

I'm not trying to troll you or anyone else, I'm just wondering what your reasoning for that is.

If you ask me, it's not the government's business to be THIS involved in baseball's steroids flappette. There are far more pressing concerns than what a few people are doing. Of course, since it is illegal, if there's enough evidence to prosecute, fine. But only if the case is pursued as if the players were just normal people.

Besides, look at the list. Curt Schilling? No Barry Bonds? What, exactly, ARE the feds trying to accomplish? (Although I understand the rationale for leaving Bonds off, he is the biggest active player in the BALCO case and if this does have anything to do with this case, not bringing him in would be simply ludacrisp.)

Originally posted by Von MaestroIn a rare display of unity (Hockey should take notes), the players & owners have agreed to ignore the government's subpeonas (story.news.yahoo.com) to appear before congress regarding the steroid controversy.

It's nice to see baseball telling the government to butt out of something that they don't have any business sticking their collective noses into.

If we need the government to protect children from the evils of television by regulating everything in that medium in ridiculous fashion, then it would make sense that we also need the government to protect our children from the evils of steroid-using heroes. If the federal government is going to continue to tell people how they are allowed to live their lives and who they can and cannot look up to, at least they're gonna be consistently invading and ignore any kind of right to privacy or responsibility on all fronts.

Congress has control over baseball due to the exemption MLB has had since 1922 to the Sherman Anti-Trust Act as well as the right to investigate due to Interstate Commerce being involved.Schilling and Thomas are on the list to represent the 'clean players', as they have been outspoken about steroid use. Of course, Schilling and Congressmen fighting over camera time could be hilarious. Wonder if they'll rig his testimony around his call-ins to talk shows.As for Congress having better things to do: By investigating steroids, Congress can't do anything that actually leads to money coming out of my pocket. Any day where Congress can't screw with my wallet or life is a good day.

Hey, it's one day they aren't taking away our rights, one day they aren't devising ways to screw the middle class. That's not counterproduction in my book.

This will have one out of two outcomes, either it becomes a made-for-TV version of Jose Cannes's book, or it forces the baseball brass to implement an even tougher steroid policy. More than likely a combination of the two. Remember in 1992, WWF, guys magically became smaller for about 5 years. Call it tough love, but if getting dragged through the mud is what it takes for all of baseball to clean up it's act, then I'm all for it.

Originally posted by drjayphdBesides, look at the list. Curt Schilling? No Barry Bonds? What, exactly, ARE the feds trying to accomplish?

SCHILLING: Mr. Chairman, I'm not sure what I'm doing here, as I'm adamantly against the use of steroids.

CHAIRMAN: Yes, we know. We were just wondering if you'd show us that bloody sock one more time.

I get the feeling some of those congressmen will be acting like Chris Farley in that sketch he used to do on SNL, where he'd interview famous people and act like a complete dork.

"Hey Curt, remember when you beat the Yanks in game 6 with your ankle messed up? That was AWESOME!!!

Although I think if anyone's invoking Chris Farley characters, it would've been even better to bring in, oh, a motivational speaker:

Now, you kids are probably asking yourself, "Hey, Matt, how can we get back on the right track?!" Well, as I see it, there is only one solution! And that is for me to get my gear, move it on into here, 'cause I'm gonna bunk with you, buddy! We're gonna be buddies! We're gonna be pals!

Originally posted by TheBucsFanIf we need the government to protect children from the evils of television by regulating everything in that medium in ridiculous fashion, then it would make sense that we also need the government to protect our children from the evils of steroid-using heroes. If the federal government is going to continue to tell people how they are allowed to live their lives and who they can and cannot look up to, at least they're gonna be consistently invading and ignore any kind of right to privacy or responsibility on all fronts.

Me personally, I don't see it as a hero-worship deal, I see at as trying to protect up-and-coming players from feeling like they HAVE to take steroids to compete.